Tours: Just to set the record straight!

[Host Caroline]

I posted this in a response to a member in another thread, but then decided it was worth its own topic so that everyone will be clear of what my role as a "host" is here on the boards [B]and[/B] why some folks seem to think I only play "devils advocate" on the "independent tour" topic!

"I'm an advocate of whatever makes people have an enjoyable vacation. There are some on the boards who advocate [I]only[/I] independent tours and just as many folks who may enjoy ship tours but are almost afraid to say so! Bottom line: there is [B]no[/B] right or wrong here. I actually have had wonderful experiences in many destinations on ship tours that weren't "cattle herds" and others with independent tours that weren't that great! It balances out. Often the destination and port times dictate the practicality of heading out on one's own in an unfamiliar place ..

If there's one thing that I learned in my many years as a travel agent is that you could book 4 families on the same cruise and they would usually have 4 different views on it when they return. What's good for one family just won't work for another.

There are a lot of advocates of independent touring on this board and I just like to balance it out so that those who choose to use ship tours don't sit there wondering if they've made the "wrong" decision because they are not booking their own tours! Some people simply don't want to be bothered but want to take advantage of the great information they receive on all CC ports of call boards.

When it's your vacation dollars I advocate listening to advice and then deciding what is best for YOU based on age, destination, interests, finances and all the other factors that make each traveler unique."

Host Caroline

[pieshops]

i agree 150%.

It seems like some push their position to the point where you are wrong if you do it any other way.

There are many people who would much rather leave the planning to others and just show up. And then there are others who get much joy in the planning (for months beforehand) of things to do.

the only right way is your own way.

thanks for this post

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Carnival Holiday 1991
Norwegian Sea August 2001
Carnival Triumph August 2003
Celebrity Horizon October 2003

[magicmom50]

DITTO Pieshops! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

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[alpal1993]

Thanks I agree also>I remember reading one post where the person wrote she loathed ship tours.Pretty stong language for an inanimate thing.My Dh and I enjoy both kinds and will continue to book whatever tours fit what we want to get out of the port of call

[Roz]

Host Caroline,

Thank you for your wise words. I do both, some independent, some thru the cruise line. If I'm sailing by myself, I tend to do the ship's tours.

Last year in Skagway, there were many unhappy campers who waited to buy their RR tickets, and were miffed that the cruise lines had bought them out. There were 3 ships in port that day so people who booked thru the cruise lines got first preference.

There's no right or wrong answer. It depends on the individual situation. IMO, no woman traveling by herself has any business doing an independent excursion in a place like Jamaica.

Roz

[Travalot]

Caroline, I really appreciate your position and agree that I, for one, am sometimes reluctant to admit that we almost always do ship excursions. I do as much research as I can, and we really have never had a bad excursion, and the vast majority are excellent. I have often been incredibly impressed with our guides, particularly in Europe.

Changes in port times and delays in tendering have caused us problems with meeting up with our independent tours, but the primary reason I like to book ship excursions is that (for some reason) my husband is completely relaxed on the ship's excursions, but tense when on our own or independent.

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[saw1953]

Caroline, well said. We have toured independently and with the ship. It depends on what we want to do and the time we have in port. Sometimes it's just easier to pay a few bucks more and not have to worry about getting back to the ship on time.

Sheila

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[CaribbeanCrazy]

I totally agree with all of you. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
The information here on the Cruise Critic board is sooooo helpful in the research and planning stages of your trip....but everyone has to do what is best for them!!
If someone said they had the best time of there life mountain climbing [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] I wouldn't say hey...maybe I should try that...even though I'm terrified of
heights. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Happy Cruising [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]
CaribbeanCrazy

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[This message was edited by CaribbeanCrazy on 04-03-04 at 10:42 AM.]

[pieshops]

for instance, there are those who say glacier bay is a MUST see, they would not do a cruise without it. We are cruising and not seeing glacier bay, we would have liked to, but we get to see the new port of icy straight, so there is our compromise.

We will live without seeing it and will get to it the next time, that is for what next times are for, right?

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Carnival Holiday 1991
Norwegian Sea August 2001
Carnival Triumph August 2003
Celebrity Horizon October 2003

[sarahjane]

Travalot,
It's funny what you said about your husband...it's the same with us! We most always book our excursions through the ship, and have NEVER had a bad one. It's an issue of trust I guess. And professionalism. However, ONE TIME I booked a deep-sea fishing excursion independently in Grand Cayman (because he really wanted to do that, and it was not available through the ship). He was going crazy the whole time thinking the rep wouldn't be there (she was about 30 minutes late). Also, the fishing boat was NOT what they had claimed it would be, the trip was VERY rough, and there were no fish (I know THAT's not their fault). All in all, it was very disappointing and hubby was nervous the whole time. We will probably never want to do another "independent" excursion again! Did I mention it was also VERY EXPENSIVE!! We trust RCI to have checked out their providers as far as quality goes, and this in our opinion is worth a few extra bucks, especially when we're travelling with our kids.
sarahjane

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[tadjr]

On the issue of cruise booked tours (this was Russia, not Alaska) we were on the first sailing of the season and booked the St Petersburg River Cruise. It was NOT what the brochure stated and everyone on the trip was very disappointed with it. Several of us made mention to the tour dept upon returning that they needed to better check just what the tour was and what they were selling it as. Not sure what the final outcome for the rest of the cruises last season, but we did get partial refund. It was terrible and a big disappointment given the limited time there. In the end we were satisfied, but even the cruise tours (especially first of the year, new vendors) can be a little tricky. Just book and cross your fingers I guess? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

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Dawn Princess Alaska May 17

[Host Caroline]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by tadjr:
On the issue of cruise booked tours (this was Russia, not Alaska) we were on the first sailing of the season and booked the St Petersburg River Cruise. It was NOT what the brochure stated and everyone on the trip was very disappointed with it. Several of us made mention to the tour dept upon returning that they needed to better check just what the tour was and what they were selling it as. Not sure what the final outcome for the rest of the cruises last season, but we did get partial refund. It was terrible and a big disappointment given the limited time there. In the end we were satisfied, but even the cruise tours (especially first of the year, new vendors) can be a little tricky. Just book and cross your fingers I guess? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
The river voyages in Europe are usually a wonderful experience and I don't want to get "flamed" for making this comment but have several friends who frequently travel to Russia and even though many of the tour operators there on the river voyages cater to and are "run by" US and other operators, the infrastructure there isn't what it is in Alaska, Canada, etc. Not to say that the first tour of the season couldn't be a "trial and error" and sometimes a tour op (independent or through ship booking) isn't what it's held out to be.. that happened to us many moons ago in St. Thomas! Kudos however to the company for refunding part of your $$$- the cruise line in our case did not -- and that says that they realized your complaints were valid. I've cruised Alaska early in the season and done independent and ship tours that were fine. Princess (I see your clock) really checks out the folks they use and if you decide to book a tour with them instead of on your own, my gut feeling is that it will be fine as long as you are booking something that interests you!

Host Caroline
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[tadjr]

I've done both independent and cruise booked tours before and havent had a problem, except for that one trip. I truly think the cruise line was not aware that we werent getting what we were being sold. It was on Celebrity and since there were several of us (I know of at least 12 that took the time to lodge a complaint) that they knew it was a problem and acted accordingly. We did get to see some of the sights they offered and agree that the outcome was fair for what we actually got.
I am more inclined to do my own tours since I enjoy researching and planning and do not have a problem booking or just doing on my own and prefer most of the time spending time on what I want to do and not what the tour company wants me to be doing. (I dont really like to shop! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]) I think there are more than enough options to keep everyone happy. As long as I'm on vacation I'll be happy! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

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Dawn Princess Alaska May 17

[Host Caroline]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>I think there are more than enough options to keep everyone happy. As long as I'm on vacation I'll be happy! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'll give an "amen" to that[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Host Caroline
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[Princess Di]

Hi, Host Caroline,
Thank you for your well-stated facts - sooooo true. Either are adventures.
The only problem in some countries, like China and Russia, is that when taking ships' shorex, you are on a Group Visa. No worries about obtaining that on your own. When you book Independent Shorex in these countries, you must make sure to obtain your own visas, as well as allow for the time this takes.

I went to Hong Kong in the '80's with a Radio Station Group (land tour, no cruise). The Talk Radio Host was Bill Handel and when we went to China for the day on the JetBoat, his Mom lost her passaporte in the 5-star hotel where we had lunched. She had gone to the lu and had her purse out to tip the Lu-Lady and that is where she lost it. :mad:
On the bus going back to the ferry boat, she realized she didn't have it and the Tour Director called the hotel. We understood that NONE of us would be allowed to leave China because she couldn't leave (due to having the Group Visa). :eek:

The bus kept trudging along to the Pier and, shortly, a man on a motorcycle pulled up to the bus, handed the Passport to the Bus Driver through the window (didn't skip a beat) and we made it on time. Later, on the ferry, I told Bill about the incident because he hadn't a clue what had occurred.

In 2000, when my Daughter, 2 GrandChildren (9 & 11), and I cruised on Orient Lines in the Med, we did a pre-cruise, 2 days, in Paris. Flying from Paris to Istanbul, we arrived very early in the morning. As I got into bed, the sun was just peaking up and Morning Prayers were starting. :rolleyes:

On the bus on the way to the Hotel, the Tour Director demanded we give our Passaportes to the Hotel to keep. I gave him my xerox copy and kept my Passport.
The Hotel LOST one of the ladies' passport and she was beside herself, having to go to the Embassy to get another. We were to sail in 2 days.
Well, later, the Hotel found it. Someone had dropped it in a hallway.

Lesson Learned: Take a bunch of copies and keep your original. :D

[FlorenceItaly]

Host Caroline - Well said. I agree :).

Marie